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Heft
- Narrated by: Kirby Heyborne, Keith Szarabajka
- Length: 11 hrs and 44 mins
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Heft
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Summary
A heartwarming novel about larger-than-life characters and second chances....
Former academic Arthur Opp weighs 550 pounds and hasn’t left his rambling Brooklyn home in a decade. Twenty miles away in Yonkers, seventeen-year-old Kel Keller navigates life as the poor kid in a rich school and pins his hopes on what seems like a promising baseball career - if he can untangle himself from his family drama. The link between this unlikely pair is Kel’s mother, Charlene, a former student of Arthur’s. After nearly two decades of silence, it is Charlene’s unexpected phone call to Arthur - a plea for help - that jostles them into action. Through Arthur and Kel’s own quirky and lovable voices, Heft tells the winning story of two improbable heroes whose sudden connection transforms both their lives. Like Elizabeth McCracken’s The Giant’s House, Heft is a novel about love and family found in the most unexpected places.
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Critic reviews
What listeners say about Heft
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Andrew
- 23-12-13
A book with weight
Would you consider the audio edition of Heft to be better than the print version?
The narrator of Arthur Opp is especially excellent.
What was one of the most memorable moments of Heft?
When Arthur goes for a walk for the first time. Never has a journey to the park being such an adventure.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
Many.... This is a sentimental journey.
Any additional comments?
I have 99 audiobooks in my library. This is one of the best.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- cheryl
- 10-12-13
An unexpected joy to read
What made the experience of listening to Heft the most enjoyable?
I found the narration perfect for the subject matter, and loved both characters. The slow, contemplative style was relaxing and easy to lose oneself in.I was left feeling emotionally drained when I'd finished it, and not ready to jump into my next book. It's a story that gives one a lot to think about, both whilst reading and long afterwards.
What was one of the most memorable moments of Heft?
This isn't a novel filled with moments of great action, adventure or suspense. It's a story of inner thoughts and regrets, but it's also certainly not without hope and optimism. The most memorable parts of the novel for me are the most emotional, and there are plenty of those. Both Arthur and Kel meeting their fathers. Yolanda's life mirroring that of Charlene, the pregnant, college dropout. Kel's placing of the obituary which Arthur will most assuredly read. This scene wasn't overly long or descriptive, but still leaves a sense of loss and sadness, that lingers.
Which character – as performed by Kirby Heyborne and Keith Szarabajka – was your favourite?
All characters were very well voiced but I prefered Arthur Opp/Yolanda, not because the narration was any better, but as I felt a greater compassion and connection to them.
Any additional comments?
I was sorry when the book finished, as the end of the novel was just the beginning of the story, I could have spent many more hours enjoying the company of Arthur, Yolanda and Kel. I will definitely listen to this again in the near future.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- tina
- 20-02-18
moving story, beautifully read
beautifully written and beautifully narrated. loved all of the characters, could have spent more time with them.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- jennifer
- 20-07-15
well worth a listen
This book was made especially good by the narrators. A real gem of a story, poignant, thoughtful and touching.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Sharon Pickles
- 04-03-22
Beautiful, poignant book and wonderfully read
I read the book a few years ago, and adored it. The main character, Arthur Opp, is beautifully drawn, and the narrator does an excellent job of portraying him. You cannot help but grow to deeply care about Arthur from the outset. The story is split between Arthur and another, much younger Arthur, narrated in a very different way but stick with it, because your heart will reach out to this young man too. It is a tender, gentle story, wonderfully told.
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